Help the helpers! - New drive to help food-poverty projects across Yorkshire

RESIDENTS across York and the region are being urged to back a new drive to help tackle food poverty.

The Yorkshire Harvest campaign will run throughout September, aiming to help replenish the stocks of local charities and anti-poverty projects.

Media outlets including The Press, as well as two local councils, have teamed up to coordinate the appeal, and donation points are being set up across York and the county.

A York-only version last year generated a huge boost for the local homelessness project Carecent, and this year's has been widened to help more causes and make donating easier. The appeal will help those not linked with existing harvest collections to make a difference.

People are encouraged to consider buying and donating a few extra items when they do their shopping, to help ensure food banks and homeless centres have enough to meet demand over the coming year.

Donations will be split between Carecent, which provides breakfast for homeless and vulnerable people in York; foodbanks in York, Harrogate, Whitby, Ryedale and Richmond; Hambleton Food Share, which works in Northallerton and Easingwold, and the Salvation Army and Rainbow Centre in Scarborough.

Organisations backing the campaign include City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council, The Press, The Gazette and Herald, BBC York, Minster FM, Stray FM and York Mix.

Steve Hughes, managing editor of The Press, said: “Food poverty is a reality or a severe threat for thousands of people across our region. We are delighted to be working with other media organisations and local councils to raise awareness and to help those who are able to make a difference to do so. Our readers have always responded generously to past appeals and we are sure they will do so again.”

Pauline Stuchfield, City of York Council’s assistant director of customer and business support services, said: "It's fantastic to follow up on the success of last year and great to see the growth of regional interest, and to be working with North Yorkshire for the benefit of worthy charities."

Nicky Gladstone, project manager at Carecent, said: "Our store cupboards get really empty around this time of year and this will be a real boost to us."

Laura Hagues, York foodbank manager, said: "This could keep our stocks going until Christmas and it's great to see so many people from across the city getting involved."

Energise in Cornlands Road and Yearsley Pool in Haley's Terrace and Sainsbury's at Monks Cross during opening hours.

The Press in Walmgate, the council HQ in Station Rise, York Mix at 5-6 King's Court; Minster FM in Chessingham Park, Dunnington; Radio York in Bootham Row; the Gazette and Herald in Yorkersgate in Malton; Stray FM in Hornbeam Park Avenue, Harrogate (all during office hours).

North Yorkshire County Council is liaising with schools to coordinate local collections across the county.

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